Worth $1,000 for Custom Action/Barrel?

[Colorado S14]

Time for another post that has probably been covered 1,000 times, but still seems to generate pages of replies, and everyone seems to enjoy them.

I have a couple cans in jail and am planning building my first precision bolt gun. I built a 224 Valkyrie gas gun last year that has been pretty accurate, but, after taking a class with Frank/Mile High this year and spending some time behind some really nice sticks I am starting to finalize my plans for a bolt gun build.

I, like many others, have had great success with a Tikka hunting rifle and see all the great things people are doing with them as the foundation of their builds and after putting together a spreadsheet of two possible paths and am not sure which way to go. Is it worth spending the extra $1,000 to go the custom action/barrel route? Or would that money be better spend on 1,000 rounds of ammo or training?

What say ye!?

2020 Bolt Gun Build Opt. 1
Item	Specifics	Price
Base Gun	Tikka T3X CTR 6.5CM 24"	$898.00​
Trigger Spring	YoDave	$10.00​
Bolt Handle	Sterk Precision	$110.00​
New Stock	KRG X-Ray Sako Green	$569.00​
Stock Acc.	KRG ARCA Spigot Mount	$122.00​
Bipod	Atlas CAL BT65-NC	$240.00​
Bipod Adapter	RRS BTC-PRO	$70.00​
Muzzle Brake	TBAC 30CB	$125.00​
Scope Base	Nightforce 1pc. 20 moa	$57.00​
Scope Mount	MPA 1-Piece	$250.00​
Scope	TBD	$1,750.00​
Sell Stock	-	-$150.00​
	Total	$4,051.00​

2020 Bolt Gun Build Opt. 2
Item	Specifics	Price
Action	Bighorn Origin	$825.00​
Barrel	PVA 6.5CM	$750.00​
Stock	KRG X-Ray Sako Green	$569.00​
Stock Acc.	KRG ARCA Spigot Mount	$122.00​
Bipod	Atlas CAL BT65-NC	$240.00​
Bipod Adapter	RRS BTC-PRO	$70.00​
Muzzle Brake	TBAC 30CB	$125.00​
Trigger	Triggertech 2 Stage	$250.00​
Scope Mount	MPA 1-Piece	$250.00​
Scope	TBD	$1,750.00​
	Total	$4,951.00 ​

 

[b6graham]

subtract 125 cause you have muzzle brake on there twice
subtract 100 and get a barrel from keystone or any TL3 barrel and a hunts long range recoil lug

for the origin, add a barrel and bolthead and shoot the same 224V ammo for training

 

[Colorado S14]

subtract 125 cause you have muzzle brake on there twice
subtract 100 and get a barrel from keystone or any TL3 barrel and a hunts long range recoil lug

for the origin, add a barrel and bolthead and shoot the same 224V ammo for training

Fixed the double brake, thanks.

Thanks for the input!

 

[Sutherlandsd]

The difference in your two setups are the $750 PVA barrel and the trigger tech, you could go cheaper on both of those and the difference is much smaller. Keystone barrel and a used trigger and your golden. The Bighorn you will have a system that you can quickly change barrels and build on.

Edit...what @b6graham said

 

[6brshooter]

As previous poster said, used trigger for quite a bit cheaper and a criterion and barrel nut for 350.00

 

[Who?Me?]

Im newer to rifles, but in all other hobbies I put more money into better equipment and work an extra shift at work here and there to buy the regular stuff (in this case rounds).

But from what Ive read on the forum, and a gent just sent me his spreadsheet for his last custom rifle, he spent 1/3 of his budget Juston the action, total price was about $3600, his action cost about $1150.

And since Ive been shooting a stock RPR in 6.5 CR, I can say that the action should be a priority!

 

[Meety Peety]

I have a Remington action that I sunk a ton of money (And time) into as well as an Origin. Both have seen multiple barrels and both shoot well when paired with a premium barrel. That being said, the difference between the two is still night and day. After all of the action & bolt work, I probably spent more on that Remington than I did on the Origin, but back then the Origin didn't exist yet. As others pointed out, the real difference in your cost delta is the fact that your second option has quality barrel and trigger while the first option is using factory components. If you were to put a Trigger tech and a quality barrel on that Tikka, you'd be into it for the same or more. That's not even considering the quick change bolt head and CRF that you get with the Bighorn.

 

[Dthomas3523]

I’d look at badrock or mpa or the snipers hide rifle over both of these and they are cheaper.

 

[TheGerman]

Or get a Barrett MRAD and not be stuck building another variant of this when you decide you want to shoot another caliber.

 

[Who?Me?]

I’d look at badrock or mpa or the snipers hide rifle over both of these and they are cheaper.

A guy on the forums today said he visited APO personally and put in an order for the Snipers Hide Rifle.
He said the wait is a month .... and that is pretty good compared to some others you wait months for

 

[King_beardsly]

If you're will to spend 2k-3k on a rifle you've got some good options in that price range that are turn key rigs

 

[Another Casual]

I'm very happy with my origins but didn't spend near what you have on the sheet. Also very happy with my criterion barrel and night force SHV for about half of what you have on the sheet, etc. I shop on sale and piece things together overtime. For me it would come down to this, if you'd be happy with the tikka stock (and I think you would be), I'd just get that. If you're going to sink a ton of money into accessories, etc I'd just go with the origin.

 

[sleeplz]

If you have some patience, you can find some deals in the buy section of snipershide. I know a lot of people want triggertech diamonds but unless you want to go down to 4 oz, just get a Special that goes down to 1 lb that's used on this site. I've also seen decent prices on razor gen 2's used on this site as well. If you buy used, use paypal but not the friends and family option on high dollar items. It's worth the piece of mind as some guys have been burned before.

 

[Cascade Hemi]

Factory Tikkas shoot pretty dang nice and rebarreling them requires a lot less "truing" than a Remington. A Tikka action gives up very little against some of the common custom actions on the market and you'd get two barrels instead of one (for the same price as the custom) going that route. Personally I'd rather start with the custom action but if your budget is less the Tikka is a fine option.

 

[King_beardsly]

I just looked at the PVA barrels and I'm not sure how you got 750 unless its cut rifling with some options. I personally run one of their barrels with button rifling and it's an absolute hammer, now you can do the savage prefit from them to save a bit of coin as well.

 

[Estes640]

I’ve had both and honestly I’m sticking with a tikka as it’s cheaper and doesn’t give up enough to warrant it. PVA makes shouldered prefit tikka barrels as well. Same cost as the origin prefit. So after your shoot out the hammer of the OEM barrel, snag a prefit and go at it again

 

[b6graham]

I’ve had both and honestly I’m sticking with a tikka as it’s cheaper and doesn’t give up enough to warrant it. PVA makes shouldered prefit tikka barrels as well. Same cost as the origin prefit. So after your shoot out the hammer of the OEM barrel, snag a prefit and go at it again

just make sure to order that PVA barrel now so you might get it before you shoot out the factory tikka barrel

 

[DangerRanger]

Send your tikka to a smith once and you can ordered shouldered barrels and swap them yourself just as easy as a bighorn. Hell McGowan will send you a shouldered tikka prefit pretty cheap

 

[Estes640]

just make sure to order that PVA barrel now so you might get it before you shoot out the factory tikka barrel

I believe they are changing things around quite a bit for the barrels right now. They are all expected to ship by August 9th or they refund you some money. That’s pretty good incentive to have them done in time.

 

[King_beardsly]

I believe they are changing things around quite a bit for the barrels right now. They are all expected to ship by August 9th or they refund you some money. That’s pretty good incentive to have them done in time.

I believe that was for the 4th of July sale, but I know they ramping up production after adding some new machinery

 

[260284]

The Sterk handle is closer to $75-80 if you buy from him with the exchange rate. I bought a Tikka T3 Lite 270 just for the action and trigger for less than $400 delivered, so unless you are going to shoot the CTR barrel out, don't spend the $$ on it.

 

[Estes640]

I believe that was for the 4th of July sale, but I know they ramping up production after adding some new machinery

It was. I strongly believe that they’ve made quite a few improvements after the JH issues. Those guys know what they are doing.

 

[King_beardsly]

That's why josh over there is my go to smith

 

[Colorado S14]

Thanks for all the input, certainly leaning the custom action route now.

A guy on the forums today said he visited APO personally and put in an order for the Snipers Hide Rifle.
He said the wait is a month .... and that is pretty good compared to some others you wait months for

I have put 200 rounds through the APO and it is great, I just prefer the Tikka action or a custom.

If you're will to spend 2k-3k on a rifle you've got some good options in that price range that are turn key rigs

Yea, just not sure it is worth it to go that route. If I do what others suggest and go with a slightly cheaper barrel option I can do the Origin, barrel, XRay, spigot mount, and trigger for about the same price. I think that is probably a higher quality option compared to the Badrock, APO, Seekins, etc. Maybe I am off base there though

I'm very happy with my origins but didn't spend near what you have on the sheet. Also very happy with my criterion barrel and night force SHV for about half of what you have on the sheet, etc. I shop on sale and piece things together overtime. For me it would come down to this, if you'd be happy with the tikka stock (and I think you would be), I'd just get that. If you're going to sink a ton of money into accessories, etc I'd just go with the origin.

Yea, not running the Tikka stock, want the adjustability of something else. FWIW if I can sell the CTR setup for $100-$150 I would only be out a couple hundred on a KRG Bravo for example.

I just looked at the PVA barrels and I'm not sure how you got 750 unless its cut rifling with some options. I personally run one of their barrels with button rifling and it's an absolute hammer, now you can do the savage prefit from them to save a bit of coin as well.

I had the cut rifled option, this is the area where I lack the most knowledge, barrel options. I was unaware of the lug @b6graham mentioned and that seems like a pretty good option. I am open to input from the collective as to which barrel route is the best bang for the buck PVA, Keystone, others?

The Sterk handle is closer to $75-80 if you buy from him with the exchange rate. I bought a Tikka T3 Lite 270 just for the action and trigger for less than $400 delivered, so unless you are going to shoot the CTR barrel out, don't spend the $$ on it.

That was the original thought, shoot out the stocker then rebarrel.

 

[King_beardsly]

The hunts lug is pretty slick, I'm going to probably grab one once I burn out my 6cheatmoor and grab tl3 barrels for future cross compatibility. Now cut vs button is an age old debate, if button is done right with the stress relief after its rifled then you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference in accuracy. Single point cut has amazing consistency and less stress to the barrel but its not like a night and day difference between a properly done button and cut.

 

[b6graham]

a button from keystone is a very very good way to go especially considering the price over a criterion. even his kreigers are priced well. ask @padom what he thinks of John's buttons

 

[King_beardsly]

I like my button from josh, well it's a rock creek barrel that he spun up

 

[padom]

a button from keystone is a very very good way to go especially considering the price over a criterion. even his kreigers are priced well. ask @padom what he thinks of John's buttons

They are as accurate as anything else out there.

220TB



300yds




6.5x47L




300yd




224V

 

[SonicBurlap]

I'd go with option 2 but a PVA Jet Blast muzzle brake, and if you want a TriggerTech Diamond 2-Stage they said they'd be $30 more than the single stage so figure closer to $300. Hopefully they'll be out soon.